Gary Hanna, the food critic behind the YouTube channel Gary Eats, travelled to Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms in Eglwys Fach, Ceredigion, Wales. The restaurant is widely considered one of Britain's finest dining establishments, serving a 30-course tasting menu.
For a minimum price of £450 plus 20% VAT per person, Hanna's final bill came to £540. He awarded the restaurant a 10-star rating but admitted the cost was "ridiculous".
A 10-star rating with a 'ridiculous' price
Speaking about the price, Hanna said: "It's a simple 10-star. Quite a few are going to say that's a ridiculous price. Yes, it is a ridiculous price." He went on to explain that diners are also paying for the experience, panning his camera to show the stunning scenery around the remote location.
He added: "You're paying for a dream. And that's what it is. I think it's their dream. um they they have smashed it out of the park and take my hat off to both of them."
More than five hours of dining
The meal is not a quick one - it took Hanna and his cameraman more than five hours to work through the entire menu. He stepped inside in daylight and left in pitch black. Even so, he described it as "the best dining experience" he had ever had.
Ynyshir holds two Michelin stars, and its menu draws heavily on Japanese, Thai and Southeast Asian street food, combined with local Welsh ingredients. Among the dishes Hanna enjoyed were Japanese madai, Japanese hamachi, Balfego bluefin tuna, carabineros prawn, Atlantic black cod and Japanese crown melon.
Advice for foodies
Hanna advised others to make a full trip of it: "If you are a massive foodie, this is definitely for you. What I suggest you do is actually come here, book a hotel, and have the whole ambience of some wonderful wines, whiskys etc etc." He added: "The only way you can understand what I've experienced is to experience it yourself."
By the time the first of six desserts arrived, he said he was "really, really full up". The restaurant is operated by chef Gareth Ward and his partner Amelia Eiriksson; Ward has helmed it since 2013. Celebrity chef James Martin has previously hailed it as "the best restaurant in the world" and tipped it to earn a third Michelin star.
